to ask what’s happened to kids parties?

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m starting to wonder if I’m a bit of a dinosaur...

Is it not the done thing to lay on party food anymore?

I’m taking my son to a party and the parents have said there’ll be some cheese and butter sandwiches and few snacks like carrot sticks.

I went to one last year where it was entirely outdoors - in November. We did outdoorsy stuff in the mud and had hot chocolate and cake. No one was allowed inside the house except for loo. No other food.

There have been a few others too where food is bare minimum and it feels odd.

It’s my son’s birthday soon and he’s having a softplay party. I’m planning to do a full party food spread (sandwiches, crisps, chocolates, cakes, crudités etc).

Is this not the done thing? Am I going to be thought a massive pig?

I find navigating all of this stuff really stressful.

All the kids’ parties DS went to had loads of food laid on. He’s now 11.

I have been to parties where there was loads of food - but hardly any children ate any and the hosts would be begging people to take food home. I think a lot of parties have become too big and too activity based and children don't sit down to eat because they don't really think they are at a party - just at another play event. Presents get put in a bag to open later - which I think is sad because some people choose presents carefully and would like to see the child's reaction.

Well I love a big spread....I find mostly the parents go round hoovering up the excess when they come to pick up the little darlings.

No YANBU

They just aren't very good hosts.

We’ve been to a few parties where a small piece of cake and squash is all that’s been served, but the party I’m doing for my nearly 3 year old will have food- an individual party tea in a box per child with sandwich, fruit, cake, drink and crisps probably.

As a kid I loved a spread at a party. Chance to eat all the crap my mum would not usually allow. I ate loads.

Mine have been to a couple where there’s been a lack of food, like at Build a Bear but that was obviously to keep costs down and totally understandable.
The one that got my goat was a disco in year 1 where parents were made to join in by the over enthusiastic DJ and despite being there for two hours we didn’t even get a cup of tea! The kids had food and drink but also no party bag. She’d obviously shelled out a lot for the DJ. Nonetheless I was parched!

I think you’ve just had bad hosts.

Actually the last party we went to there was cake and crisps with a drink half way through and then back to a party activity. It kind of worked but it was a very physical activity and idve done food last and maybe a drink in the middle.

Depends on the time of the party. Usually they’re vaguely across a mealtime and so will include sandwiches, crisps, crudites and cake. However a few are 9-11am or 2-4pm which really isn’t a mealtime so they just do drinks and cake. Both work fine.

Most parties I've been to it's either

a) full buffet spread made by parents and brought in
b) nuggets & chips etc provided by venue
c) Dominos /Mcdonalds delivered to venue

Never been to one where there wasn't enough food. Usually there's some food for the adults too ( left over buffet when the kids have finished / few bowls of chips / extra couple of pizza's)

In complete contrast to pp, most of the parties I've been to haven't had a proper spread of food. It's been either nothing but some stuff in the party bags, or some fruit and crisps during the party. The parties haven't been at mealtimes though and so I haven't blinked an eye. I'd actually find it more odd for there to be a table full of food outside of lunch/dinner times.

I did go to one at 5pm which had no food whatsoever and I thought that was really quite cheeky no party bags either

Food! Always food, and plenty to drink. Anything else is just a bit rubbish, really.

We either pay for food at the venue or bring trays of sandwiches, sausage rolls, bowls of crisps, veg and dips, jugs of squash and fairy cakes. Simple, easy stuff that kids will generally enjoy.

Don't worry about what other people are doing, just do the kind of party you want.

We always provide food for the adults at the parties we’ve hosted too. Nothing major, just a platter of sandwiches or wraps from Costco and some biscuits.

The recent parties I have been too have the usual sandwiches, carrot sticks etc. Most of it was binned. Best party I did for my DS was a football party and they also did the food which was burgers, hotdogs or pizza and cake. Not a drop left! Keep it simple, don’t over do it and maybe just do a little Mc Donald’s style box which has a drink, small sandwich, crisps

When I was a child there was food and lots of it. I was sick a couple of times through over indulgence!

The best parties, when I got fed up with left over food and thought bugger it and hit Iceland. They do all these party bites. The children loved the hot snacks, mini puddings, as did the adults who were there. Empty dishes all round.

All the parties we've been to have had massive spreads with loads of leftovers.
For DD's party I did snack boxes - sandwich (half ham/half cheese roll) pom bears, raisins and party rings , couple of jugs of squash and then cheese and biscuits for the parents in the kitchen - no wastage at all (village hall) every party we've been to since has had snack boxes!
Just call me a trendsetter!

My DS party went from 9.30-11.30 and so I thought “well I’ll do some food but they will head off for lunch afterwards probably”, thinking it was too early to do a proper lunch. I did crisps, crackers, fruit, sausages, popcorn, cheese, biscuits and then cake and there was very little left - they descended like they’d been starved! Lesson learned for next time.

Normally we do an evening party and I get loads of pizza and garlic bread but that’s because I figure it takes the place of their evening meal.

I do bare minimum food for my kids party... that's because of all the waste! In all fairness i only ever hosted ONE kids party where all the buffet food was eaten (except for a few odds).
So if your child comes to my kids party ... there will be an activity most likely outdoor (my kids are summer babies). The food provided is either not dog or pizza calculated by 1 hot dog / child, 3 children / pizza. + some spare for the extra hungry ones. There will be some sweets on the table (think small Haribo packets) & plenty of drink.
For dessert it's actually the birthday cake (that's because I detest cake wrapped in napkin). spare
And hey presto! Minimum good waste.

Never attended nor hosted a kids party without adequate food on offer.

Ok, second wave of contradictory answers!

I’ve spoken to my husband and we’re going to do a normal party spread plus adult sandwich platters. Budget for each child to have a sandwich, crisps and some biscuits and small piece of cake. Cake and sandwiches and hot drinks for adults.

I’m not doing vegetables sticks.

@Ylvamoon

That’s a well catered party! Much more than the parties I’m talking about.

I'd expect a proper lunch if the party time included 12-1pm.
So 10am-12pm, no. 11am-1pm or 12-2pm yes. 1-3pm, no.
I'd expect dinner if finishing after 5pm.

Every party I've been to has had a big spread.. there's always loads left if it's only kids eating as they barely eat anything, but when the adults are allowed to join it nearly all gets eaten.

My DC are teens now but when they were regularly attending parties, there were sandwiches, crisps, biscuits, cakes etc and maybe some fruit. They never really ate much though. I'd be happy with a cheese sandwich and carrot sticks actually! Perhaps it's easier to party without food so that there are no allergy/intolerance issues.